Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Union minister open to reducing cell tower radiation

Union minister open to reducing cell tower radiation

Somit Sen TNN

Mumbai:
Union minister of state for communications Milind Deora said he was
“open” to reducing radiation density for cell towers in the city. The
response has come close on the heels of several citizens and activists
demanding that radiation levels in Mumbai should be “lowered”. Speaking
to TOI, Deora said, “We had adopted the international norms on
radiation in 2008 and lowered it by one-tenth last year.” The previous
radiation density was 4500 milliwatts per sq m which was brought down to
450 milliwatts per sq m. But activists point out that even this is four
to five times higher than what is followed in countries like France,
Russia, Belgium and Austria. Deora
said the Indian Council of Medical Research is conducting a study on
harmful effects of radiation on humans, birds and other species. “We are
keeping an open mind and I will not hesitate from lowering the
electromagnetic frequency limits, if needed,” he said. Activist
Prakash R Munshi, who is spearheading a campaign for citizens’ safety
from cellphone tower radiation, said, “There is no change in the
radiation levels despite claims by cellphone operators. The ICNIRP
(International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) norms,
considered the
standard international norms, may have been reduced by the Union
ministry to 10% of earlier levels. But the levels have not gone down in
many areas.” Munshi said he is taking up the issue with the BMC,
Union ministry and Department of Telecommunications. Professor Girish
Kumar of IIT Bombay said the radiation risk depended
on the proximity to the towers. “If one tower has several antennae,
there is a higher risk of radiation. The need is to have more low power
transmitting towers,” he said. A spokesperson of Cellular
Operators’ Association of India said, “Every cancer is not related to
radiation. There is no need to panic.” RADIATION NORMS BMC POLICY ON CELLPHONE TOWERS Only one tower should be allowed on a building Written consent of 70% of occupants and everyone on the building’s top floor is mandatory Ban on towers in schools, colleges, hospitals, child rehabilitation centres and old age homes HEALTH HAZARDS Sleep disorders, headaches, irritability, memory loss & depression It can lead to seizures, paralysis, miscarriages, irreversible infertility and cancer